Health care company prescribes 135 new jobs for Oklahoma City

Pharmacy benefits manager OptumRx, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, is expanding its presence in Oklahoma City, adding 135 pharmaceutical jobs to the area this year.

U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, left, joined Stephen Hemsley, right, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, at a press conference in Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, March 25, 2013, to announce the company's plans to expand its presence in Oklahoma City, bringing new jobs for pharmacists, pharmacist technicians and customer service advocates. The Oklahoma City facility manages mail service order intake and customer service in support of OptumRx and UnitedHealth Group's pharmaceutical, insurance, and health and wellness programs. Company spokespersons project 135 new jobs will be added in the period from Jan, 2012 until the end of this year. In a UnitedHealth Group news release, the company states it serves more than 360,000 Oklahomans. OptumRx is the third largest pharmacy benefits manager in the United States, according to the news release. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Tulsa, said the expansion is a credit to the state's pro-business climate and talent pool, and will help diversify the local economy. Inhofe spoke Monday at a news conference to announce the expansion.

“These are good-paying jobs,” Inhofe said. “We are starting to get recognition when a service type industry has chosen Oklahoma City as an expansion area.”

OptumRx already houses more than 350 employees in Oklahoma City at the Presbyterian Health Center Research Park, where the new positions also will be added.

“The new positions we are announcing today will help us quickly adapt to the changes in a more consumer-focused health marketplace,” said Stephen Hemsley, United Health Group president and CEO.

Inhofe and Hemsley also hinted at possible further expansion in Oklahoma City.

“We try to be very conservative in our announcements, but there is more to come,” Hemsley said.

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by Brianna Bailey

Business Writer

Brianna Bailey has lived in Idaho, Germany and Southern California, but Oklahoma is her adopted home. She has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and has worked at several newspapers in Oklahoma and Southern...